PROGRAMME IN ALBANIA Mine Action and UXO HOTSPOTS - VA Workshop CCM Meeting 18 May 2016 - The Convention on ...

Mine Action and UXO HOTSPOTS
   PROGRAMME IN ALBANIA

 VA Workshop CCM Meeting 18 May 2016

 Albanian Mine & Munitions Coordination Office
                  (AMMCO)

MA Programme Main Achievements
                             Successful completion of clearance of mine
                             and Cluster Munitions contaminated areas in
                             NE Albania in November 2009.
                             The communities in NE Albania can move
                             safely. The mine/UXO threat is no longer an
                             obstacle to the development.
                             National sustainable capacities to plan,
                             monitor and manage mine action activities
                             established in Albania.
                             Zero mine/UXO accidents in NE Albania
                             since 2005.
                             Rehabilitation capacities (Prosthetic &
                             Physiotherapy) at Kukes Regional Hospital
                             capable (trained/equipped) to treat
                             mine/UXO survivors in the region.
                             84 survivors/their families in northeast
                             Albania able to establish home based
                             economies.
                             104 mine/UXO survivors completed the
                             vocational training courses.
                             10 child mine/UXO survivors assisted with
Together we made it happen   educational reintegration activities.

Data and Statistics
   Data collected in cooperation with local
    health    and      other    institutions,
    ICRC/ARC, ALB-AID, other local NGOs.

   150 people dead and 846 injured have
    been registered in: landmines and
    cluster munitions, ERW and
    unexploded ordnances in Albania (Total
    casualties in Albania 996 victims as of
    April 2016).

   The last accident with UXO from
    Hotspots recorded in 22 September
    2015 (Vertop – Berat).

   Data disaggregated by Age and Gender.

   Data are shared continuously with all
    stakeholders.

Emergency and Medical Care
   Improve emergency capabilities at village/rural/remote level:
        Establishment of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) network with 30 nurses in former mine and
         cluster Munitions region.

        Provisions of training for the village nurses working in former 39 mine/cluster munitions areas.

        Provisions of equipments and other supplies to 30 health centers in former mine and cluster munitions
         villages.

   Improve surgical capabilities of hospitals in former mine and cluster munitions
    areas:

        Training of medical doctors in emergency and surgical trauma in Albania and abroad.

        Surgical Equipments provided to Kukes regional hospital and the district hospital in Tropoja.

        X- Ray equipments ; C- Arm and ICONOS, provided to Kukes Regional Hospital.

   Treatment of sight impaired mine and cluster munitions: – 10 child survivors.

   In process….. from the government and donor support:

        National Emergency Center, (CCC, number 112, Staff, new auto- ambulances & helicopter support .
        Every regional hospital upgraded in equipments
        National Center for Continuing Education (training , conferences and seminars)
        Visits at home for PWD - part of the contract for family doctors
        Number of medications in the reimbursement list increased.

Physical Rehabilitation
   Support from ICRC at the National Ortho- Prosthetic Center.

        Raw materials, components for prostheses provided.

        On – job training for prosthetic technicians in Albania and 1 PO technician cat II abroad.

   Support from U.S. Department of State through ITF

        During the emergency phase for rehabilitation of patient outside Albania,

        Start building the capacities in former mine and cluster munitions area in Albania:

   Implementation of the project “Access to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation-
    Three Phases 2006-2011):
        Development of the Rehabilitation unit (prosthetic Workshop and physiotherapy unit) in Kukes within the
         hospital structure. More space provided, number of staff increased.

        Nursing Faculty in Tirana implements a sustainable program for the development of physiotherapy as a
         branch in education system.Development of Physiotherapy curricula and Master programme at National
         level. Every years students enrolled in academic year.

        Training of 6 Ortho-Prosthetic technicians at the national level.

        Training for 1 year for medical doctor on physical medicine.

        Upgrade of rehabilitation unit at Kukes Regional Hospital (former mine effected areas).

Socio-Economic Inclusion

   Socio- economic reintegration project for the development of household
    economies among of survivors and their families northeast Albania.

        84 mine/UXO survivors and their families have benefited from this support.
   Vocational training project implemented for survivors and their family members.
        There was a study for the professions needed in the former mine affected areas, survivors where
         consulted for the professions needed.

        104 mine and cluster munitions survivors and/or their families have benefited from this support.

        10 child mine/UXO survivors assisted with school/educational activities

        In these initiatives; the participation of survivors, indirect victims, and affected communities was
         facilitated to set priorities
   Beyond mine action ... ) “Kukes Regional Development Initiative”.
        With focus and priority to former mine affected areas; in total 89 diffrent development projects
         implemented .

        Active participation and decision making of affected communities, indirect victims and survivors in
         setting the priorities,
   In process….. from the government and donor financial and technical support:

        There is much attention from the government in “Vocational Schools “ and this is done in close
         cooperation and coordination with some donor countries, under the lead of Ministry of Social Welfare and
         Youth and Ministry of Education.

The major needs identified from the Needs
                    Assessment project;

I- Emergency/Medical & Rehabilitation Needs;

   527 persons with amputations need to be fitted and/or periodic maintenance of
    prosthesis/orthoses; this number includes below and upper limb prostheses,
    including partial foot and lose of fingers.

   528 injured persons need to have regular medical checks.

   21 survivors needs corrective surgery.

   610 persons need to attend physiotherapy sessions.

   137 injured survivors should have periodic checks of their eyes from the
    specialists.

   12 injured survivors should undergo operation for their vision.

II- Economic inclusion/ income generation activities
   583 survivors are in need of further economic support such as; employment opportunities,
    income generation activities and support with micro - loans for family home based
    businesses.

   347 survivors wish to attend vocational training Courses.

   57 survivors wish to attend high school (Secondary school) and 34 persons to attend
    university studies.

   123 families of survivors need to be supported for re-imbursement of studies of their
    children.

   20 survivors ask to have access to daily Care Centers.

III- Psycho-Social/Peer Support, Sport Activities;
   262 injured survivors should attend psycho-social sessions.

   32 injured survivors have special needs such as following: supplies with reading tools for
    blind persons (Braille), Sign language media(sound with brails), Somniferous books (
    special books with sound with brails).

   Almost all survivors want to participate in recreational activities and psychosocial support
    to overcome the trauma, including in the peer support programs.

Collaboration and Coordination from
                all partners and sectors

   At all the process: continuous collaboration maintained with districts
    hospitals, other local authorities, Social Services Directories, relevant
    line ministries, national & international NGOs involved and mine/ERW
    and UXO Hotspot survivors , their representative organizations and
    other Persons with Disabilities.

   Enabling rapid and reliable communication: Information/Coordination
    mechanism in place, ( coordination meetings, frequent visits, bilateral
    discussions, awareness/media materials).

   National and International meetings, seminars/workshop with
    participation and voice from survivors, other PWDs, Mine Action
    Portfolio- good chance to discuss the progress of the year and the
    future planning.

   Mine action/Victim Assistance has been part health/rehabilitation
    structures and plans, other regional development strategies; awareness
    raising for the problem.

Challenges to the VA in Albania
   Migration of the capacities from the distance/rural region to more urban areas has
    resulted in short of the services in some services in hospitals and in Primary Health
    Care in affected areas.

   Other competing priorities within the health sector have resulted in less attention to
    the needs of the survivors and other people with disabilities in terms of the physical
    rehabilitation needs.

   It will take time before there is a sufficient number of professionals able to treat
    patients in need at all primary, secondary and tertiary level (years…?). Change of
    mentality within health professionals to make them aware of the importance of
    physical rehabilitation services.

   High unemployment rate in mine/UXO affected region have burden the possibilities
    for mine survivors and disabled persons in general to employment opportunities.
    Even when assisted with the vocational training initiatives, the survivors have
    difficulties in competing with same other professions and services offered.

   Poverty and lack of the economic developments in mine/UXO affected region, has
    brought another difficulty for mine survivors to get jobs and develop economic
    reintegration activities.

   More Synergies, collaboration, coordination within the disability sector- much
    needed.

Victim Assistance

 IMPLEMENTED BY

    DONORS

                    Private Sector

Victims Assistance Activities

                   Thank you